Sunday, November 8, 2009

A Very Problematic Song

Если у вас нету дома,
Пожары ему не страшны.
И жена не уйдет к другому,
Если у вас, если у вас,
Если у вас нет жены,
Нету жены.
Оркестр гремит басами,
Трубач выдувает медь.
Думайте сами, решайте сами,
Иметь или не иметь.
Иметь или не иметь.
Если у вас нет собаки,
Ее не отравит сосед.
И с другом не будет драки,
Если у вас друга нет.
Если у вас нету тети,
Ее вам не потерять.
И если вы не живете,
То вам и не умирать.

If you have no home,
There's no fear of a fire.
And your wife won't leave you for another...
If you have no wife.
The orchestra thunders with bases,
The trumpeter blows his brass.
Think for yourself, decided for yourself,
You get it or your don't.
To have or not to have.
If you have no dog,
He won't be poisoned by your neighbor.
And there will be no conflict with a friend,
If you have no friend.
If you have no aunt,
Then you won't lose her.
And if you're not alive,
You won't lose your life.
The orchestra thunders with bases,
The trumpeter blows his brass.
Think for yourself, decided for yourself,
You get it or your don't.
To have or not to have.
(trans. Michael Wasiura)


Desultory Eclecticism's favorite song from the Soviet equivalent of A Christmas Story.  Many of the ballad lyrics come from famous historical poems, and this song is likely no exception.  Unfortunately, I have no more information.  Enjoy Sergey Nikitin's vocals and Andrey Myagkov's lip-sync.  We'll revisit this movie come новий год (the New Year's holiday)

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